Roll-on applicators



July 20,1965 l. ROBERTS 3,195,168

ROLL-0N APPLICATORS Filed April 15, 1964 ATTORNEY United States PatentOfi ice 3,195,168 Patented July 20, 1965 ssspsa 2 Claims. c1. -510 Tlu'sinvention relates to roll-on ball type applicators.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with the applicationof liquid or somewhat viscous cosmetic material which is flowable.

Roll-on applicators of the type mentioned have been known in the art. Ithas also been known to employ a helical spring which serves to actuate acup or piston for feeding the liquid or viscous cosmetic material towardthe dispensing ball. However, such constructions have embodied seriousdefects. For example, when the device is new and completely filled withthe cosmetic material, whether liquid or perfume or the like, the cup isin a retracted position and the spring is compressed so that it providesadequate pressure against the material. However, as the material becomesconsumed, the spring expands and tends to lose its power. Significantlyenough, this is most apt to happen when the cosmetic material may havehardened somewhat, probably due to slight evaporation or the like. In asituation such as this, the piston may easily stick in the barrel andthe spring will have insufficient tension to urge it forwardly. Thedevice is then substantially useless because the material will not beproperly fed to the ball.

With the foregoing in mind I have devised a structure of the type aboveoutlined but wherein I employ means whereby the spring can be caused tobodily follow the movement of the piston. In other words, when the cupis advanced as above described, the spring may be compressed to itsoriginal tension and may resume or even exceed its original pressure.Thus the spring may be compressed independently of the position of thepiston.

An important aspect of this invention is illustrated by the followingsituation. Assume that the piston or cup has advanced forwardly and isthen obstructed by somewhat set or hardened cosmetic material so that itwill not operate properly. By employing my improved mechanism the springcan then be compressed to such a degree that it may even serve as afixed transmission element, transmitting considerable manual forcesdirectly to the cup. This will loosen the cup so that the material willthen be adequately fed.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a longitudinal,axial rod Within the body of the applicator, which rod supports thespring and the cup. This, in and of itself, is not new. However, I haveformed the free end of the rod in flattened form so that it performs awhipping or agitating action when rotated. By this means, if thecosmetic material has hardened somewhat, it may be loosened by thewhipping action of the rod end.

The invention will be further understood from the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an applicator made according to theinstant invention, the cover thereof not being shown;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 33 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 44 of FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing both the cup and thespring in an advanced position when a considerable quantity of thematerial has been used up.

The outer form of the device id is largely conventional. The deviceincludes a rotatable head Ill and a plastic ball 1.2 which may beretained as is conventional in a metal ball holder 13, the ball beingrollable in the usual fashion. Referring to FIGURE 2, the outer barrell4 converges at its forward end where it looks ball holder 13 in place.The inner barrel 15 encloses the operating mechanism. These elements areknown in the art per se.

The viscous cosmetic or other fiowable material to be dispensed iscontained in the forward portion 16 of the inner barrel 15. A disc 17closes the rear end of both barrels. A longitudinal rotatable shaft orrod 18 extends substantially throughout the length of the device, itsreduced rear end 19 being fixed in rotatable head 11, and its neck 29being journalled in disc 17.

Approximately the rear half of shaft 18 may be threaded as at 21although such threading may be continued further up the rod if desired.A collar-like screw follower or nut 22 serves as a terminal for helicalspring 23. Follower 22 is axially driven by rotation of the shaft 18.The other end or terminal of spring 23 is seated in a rear well formedin plastic cup or piston 24'. The forward end of cup 24 is formed with adeep cup formation 25. Cup 24 is preferably but not necessarily of adeformable flexible plastic such as polyethylene.

Inner barrel l5 converges conically at its forward end. Shaft 18 extendsinto this converging portion, the forward end 26 of shaft 13 beingflattened and thus serving as a whip or agitator when the shaft isrotated.

In the normal operation of the device, the cup 24 will gradually moveforward under the influence of spring 23. Eventually the spring will beconsiderably extended. This will occur after a period of use when thecosmetic material may have hardened somewhat. This condition may causethe cup 24 to bind or stick or, in any event, to discontinue adequateforward pressure on the cosmetic material. At this point, the user willrotate head 11 so as to correspondingly rotate shaft 13. This will causethreaded follower 22 to move axially along the shaft so as to againcompress the spring 23. Only an approach or a return of the spring toits original compressive tension may satisfactorily dislodge the cup 24and restore satisfactory operation. On the other hand, follower 22'; maybe so far actuated forwardly as to compress spring 23 to its maximumextent whereby spring 23 becomes, in effect, a fixed solid elementcapable of transmitting considerable manual forces to the cup so as todislodge it when necessary.

In order to prevent rotation of follower 22 as head 11 is rotated, thesubstantially annular collar-like follower is formed with a flat side orperipheral portion 27, the corresponding side of inner barrel 15 beinglikewise flattened to restrain the follower against rotation. Animportant feature is the like flattening of the side wall portion 28 ofthe cup 24 which is in axial alignment with said flat portion 27. Thisinsures proper sliding action of the cup without excessive friction.

At the same time that follower 22 is actuated forwardly to compress thespring 23, the rotation of the shaft 18 will rotate its flattenedwhipping end 26 so as to agitate the viscous cosmetic material. Thiswill provide better homogeneity and will also assist the cup in itsdislodging action.

There has been shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment ofthe invention but it is obvious that changes and omissions may be madewithout departing from its spirit.

shaft, a flattened front end formed 'on said shaft disposed adjacent tosaid ball holder and adapted to agitate said material when said shaft isrotated, a piston slidably mounted on said smooth anterior portion ofsaid shaft for hearing against said material and urging it toward saidball, a helical spring rearwardly of said piston for urging said pistonforwardly against said material, said shaft being threaded at its rearportion, and a screw-threaded follower mounted on said rear portion ofshaft behind said spring for compressing said spring independently ofthe position of said piston in said body, said piston being cup-shapedand being formed of a flexible plastic material.

2 A roll-on applicator comprising a rollable ball, a ball holder, anelongated cylindrical body on one end of which said ball holder ismounted, said body housing a quantity of flowable material, alongitudinal cylindrical shaft extending through said body, said shaftcomprising a smooth cylindrical anterior portion, a head secured to saidshaft at the other end of said body for rotating said shaft, means onsaid shaft adapted to agitate said material when said shaft is rotated,a piston slidably mounted on said smooth anterior portion of said shaftfor bearing against said material and urging it toward said ba l, ahelical spring rearwardly of said piston for urging said pistonforwardly against said material, said shaft being threaded at its rearportion, and a screw-threaded follower mounted on said rear portion ofshaft behind said spring for compressing said spring independently ofthe position of said piston in said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/52 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

2. A ROLL-ON APPLICATOR COMPRISING A ROLLABLE BALL, A BALL HOLDER, ANELONGATED CYLINDRICAL BODY ON ONE END OF WHICH SAID BALL HOLDER ISMOUNTED, SAID BODY HOUSING A QUANTITY OF FLOWABLE MATERIAL, ALONGITUDINAL CYLINDRICAL SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY, SAID SHAFTCOMPRISING A SMOOTH CYLINDRICAL ANTERIOR PORTION, A HEAD SECURED TO SAIDSHAFT AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT, MEANS ONSAID SHAFT ADAPTED TO AGITATE SAID MATERIAL WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATED,A PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SMOOTH ANTERIOR PORTION OF SAID SHAFTFOR BEARING AGAINST SAID MATERIAL AND URGING IT TOWARD SAID BALL, AHELICAL SPRING REARWARDLY OF SAID PISTON FOR URGING SAID PISTONFORWARDLY AGAINST SAID MATERIAL, SAID SHAFT BEING THREADED AT ITS REARPORTION, AND A SCREW-THREADED FOLLOWER MOUNTED ON SAID REAR PORTION OFSHAFT BEHIND SAID SPRING FOR COMPRESSING SAID SPRING INDEPENDENTLY OFTHE POSITION OF SAID PISTON IN SAID BODY.